apple news/media reports

07/30/2007, 10:10am, EDT

Monday, July 30th

Unsupported apps found in iPhone firmware

Applications not actually available on the iPhone have been found in the device's firmware, according to an observer. In the process of searching through the iPhone's system preference files, the individual discovered five unusual listings within “Default ApplicationState.plist”:

  • com.apple.unitconverter
  • com.apple.widget.phonebook
  • com.apple.widget.translation
  • com.apple.widget.worldclock
  • com.apple.mobile.radio

Of these, the most aberrant are the widget and radio listings. While the iPhone has abilities similar to widgets, they are in fact native applications, leading the writer of iPhoneology to believe that the listings could point to atavisms from Mac OS X Tiger. They may also indicate future or unfinished features, particularly in light of the "mobile radio" listing, which does not have a direct desktop correspondence. It is suggested that Apple may later add software support for streaming Internet stations, or in a hardware revision, FM radio.


Filed under: Apple

, , 12comments, del.icio.us, slashdot, digg, buzz


12 comments
Reader Reactions (Please use <i></i> for italic text)

subscribe to comments
for this article




Expand All   Global Settings
fm radio
0
07/30, 10:17am, EDT
I know there are a fair amount of folks who think all radio sucks, but I have a crappy little motorola phone with an FM radio built in and that's what I take with me 90% of the time when I work out, because I love to listen to NPR or a dance/house music radio station at the time I usually work out.

Please, Apple... enable a radio in the iPhone. It does everything else, after all...
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Sep 2001
User is offline
re: fm radio
0
07/30, 10:20am, EDT
the least they could do is support the iPod FM radio accessory.

though I do wonder if part of the problem would be cell phone interference. if that's the case, they should let us do streaming radio but even that's not supported.
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined Sep 2000
User is offline
radio
0
07/30, 10:34am, EDT
I would guess that Apple refers to 'Radio' as in the telephone connection, still miss used..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiophone

Rick http://friends.ac
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Jul 2007
User is offline
Some of these are there..
0
07/30, 10:37am, EDT
The phone book probably refers to the Contacts portion of the Phone interface. This could easily be a mini-app of its own, and this a "widget". Likewise, the Clock includes a world clock.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Apr 2001
User is offline
cmoney
0
07/30, 10:44am, EDT
Regarding interferences, there are actualy many phones supporting radio already (at least in europe) from nokia or sony ericcson. They use the headphone shielding as an antena AFAIK - and it works like a charm.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Mar 1999
User is offline
@Rick -
0
07/30, 10:45am, EDT
I doubt that seriously as the terms radiophone and radiotelephone are just a tad archaic. Much more plausible is that it refers to enabling commercial FM, a more remote possibility would be the inclusion of AM also. My take on it.

Z
Senior User
Joined Oct 1999
User is offline
don't get your hopes up
0
07/30, 11:18am, EDT
The hardware in the iPhone that talks to the mobile phone network is, technically, a radio, and what's more, electronic engineers often refer to those types of components using *exactly* that terminology.

So for all we know, "com.mobile.radio" could just mean the built in GSM radio.

Anyway, it's pointless speculating.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Mar 2004
User is offline
we've known this a week
0
07/30, 11:26am, EDT
http://www.modmyiphone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1146

We've had this info for a week...
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Jul 2007
User is offline
even
0
07/30, 11:36am, EDT
I think even Apple has referred to the phone part of the phone as the radio before. I'd be thats all this "mystery app" is, just part of the cell phone.
Professional Poster
Joined Jan 2000
User is offline
com.apple.mobile.radio
0
07/30, 11:44am, EDT
This does not refer to the radio in the phone - it is what "would" be used when an RF Tuner was plugged in (like the iPod FM Tuner). This is evidenced by the LingoToAccessoryMap.plist file found in the same place that this one was found.

However, since com.apple.mobile.radio does not exist, you get the "not supported" error seen when the RF Tuner is plugged in.

Junior Member
Joined Sep 2000
User is offline
additional comments:..1..2..Next
Your Comments

In order to post comments: If you are a registered member, please login with your MacNN Forums username and password otherwise please uncheck the checkbox below.


Registered Member?
macnn forums login:

macnn forums password:

Not a member of the MacNN forums? Register now for free.

RSS Feeds

Have the latest content delivered to your desktop via RSS. Use the links below to get access to a specific blog, news, or reviews feed.



  MacNN -all

  MacNN Reviews

  MacNN Podcasts

  iPodNN

  Electronista

  Left Lane News

Check Out the VIERA from Panasonic!: Enter a New Visual Era with Panasonic VIERA HDTVs. An Enhanced Experience.

Get an IT Degree Online: Get solid credentials. Take your hobby to the next level. Adult Programs. Affordable.

We Need Your Expertise: Join The MyView Research Panel & Take Surveys Matched To You.

Check Out the VIERA from Panasonic!: Enter a New Visual Era with Panasonic VIERA HDTVs. An Enhanced Experience.

Join The MyView IT Research Panel: Members will receive opportunities to take part in surveys from today's leading businesses.

Buy from The Apple Store, iTunes.com, Amazon.com, TechDepot, OfficeDepot, Computers4Sure, or donate.